The city of Ames says a bus driver who failed to report an accident last December that killed an Iowa State University student has been fired.

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Updated: 9:19 PM CST Nov 23, 2016

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WEBVTT
< I regret that any
of this happened, that's
probably the thing that's coming
to mind> Ames City attorney Judy
Parks says's its been a tough
year for everyone involved in
the cyride bus accident that
killed Emmalee Jacobs. She died
at this intersection on Lincoln
way next to the ISU Campus in
Ames. Benjamin Clague was
driving the bus that hit her and
was charged with failing to
report the accident. He served a
30 day jail sentence. But he's
continued to be on the cyride
payroll until now. Parks says
Union and city rules treat all
workers alike.
< Making sure we
follow the steps that he
contractually and
constitutionally protected by to
make sure that when we do take
action we have done everythi
correctly. And that takes time,
it is a process and not an
event> Emmalee Jacobs dad, shown
here at the Clague's sentencing,
says his continued 28- thousand
dollar salary is another slap in
the face to the family.
< We didn't know
that he was still even employed
and we're kind of very upset a
disappointed in cyride that they
would keep him as an employee
this long and also pay him at
the same time>

City fires bus driver in fatal ISU student accident

The city of Ames says a bus driver who failed to report an accident last December that killed an Iowa State University student has been fired.

The Ames CyRide bus driver who hit and killed an Iowa State University student last winter was fired Wednesday.

Emmallee Jacobs, 18, died December 14, 2015, after being hit by a bus driven by 24-year-old Ben Clague.

Clague, who was a bus driver for CyRide, continued to be paid while on administrative leave for 11 months after the crash. He did not work but was paid $28,000 while on leave.

“I regret that any of this happened,” Ames City Attorney Judy Parks said. “That's probably the thing that's coming to mind.”

Parks said it has been a tough year for everyone involved in the CyRide bus accident that killed Jacobs. Jacobs died at this intersection on Lincoln Way next to the ISU campus in Ames.

Clague was driving the bus that hit her and was charged with failing to report the accident. He served a 30-day jail sentence but continued to be on the CyRide payroll until Wednesday.

Parks said it happened because union and city rules treat all workers alike.

“Making sure we follow the steps that he was contractually and constitutionally protected by to make sure that when we do take action, we have done everything correctly, and that takes time,” Parks said. “It is a process and not an event.”

Jacobs’ dad, Brad Jacobs, told KCCI over the phone that Clague's continued $28,000 salary is another slap in the face to the family.

“We didn't know that he was still even employed, and we're kind of very upset and disappointed in CyRide that they would keep him as an employee this long and also pay him at the same time,” Jacobs said.

KCCI reached out to Clague to get his response to being fired. Clague did not return our phone calls.